In this episode of the None But Curious podcast, we explore a version of gratitude that doesn’t require perfection, positivity, or emotional ease. If you're moving through the year with burnout, grief, overwhelm, or simply a sense that gratitude feels harder than usual, this episode offers a grounded, honest way back to yourself. Instead of treating gratitude like a mindset you “should” access, we look at it as something shaped by what you’ve lived through this year, what your body is holding, and the quiet details of your real life. This is gratitude for people navigating complicated holidays, shifting family dynamics, loneliness, uncertainty, or emotional fatigue. Gratitude that can coexist with everything else you’re carrying. Inside this episode, you’ll hear a gentle reframing of what thankfulness can look like in hard seasons. We talk about:• Messy gratitude—why appreciation often shows up tangled with grief, exhaustion, or change• How gratitude lives in the body through grounding sensations, not just positive thoughts• Why forced gratitude backfires and how pressure disconnects us from real meaning• Small practices of “microgratitude” that soften the edges of difficult days• The invisible network of helpers and supports that quietly hold our lives• How to notice tiny moments of warmth, ease, or presence when emotions feel heavy• A simple 30-second exercise to reconnect with the world around you If traditional holiday gratitude messages feel out of sync with your actual life, you are not alone. This episode invites you to redefine gratitude on your own terms—slower, quieter, gentler, and more truthful. There is no correct way to be thankful; there is only the way that feels real right now. The None But Curious podcast is all about finding the extraordinary in ordinary life. This episode is a companion for anyone navigating the holidays with tenderness, honesty, and a desire for grounding rather than perfection. Listen in for a compassionate reimagining of gratitude—one that meets you exactly where you are. If someone you love is having a hard season, share this episode with them. And if this resonates, subscribe for more reflections on presence, awe, and the small moments that make our days more livable.